Let's Skip the Patriotism and Religious Talk About McCain and Obama and Move On to Substantive Issues
The silly argument over which presidential candidate loves his country the most is clear evidence of a hot summer of political posturing. Not much of the country is paying attention anyway and won't until around Labor Day.
No one doubts the patriotism of GOP Sen. John McCain. He paid his dues after serving more than five years as a prisoner in the Hanoi Hilton. He is a patriot—no questions asked.
Retired Gen. Wesley Clark ruined any chance of getting on the ticket with Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. He said foolishly that McCain's being shot down over Hanoi was not a qualification to be president. Obama quickly disavowed his words, but some damage was done.
Still, the charge that Obama lacks some degree of patriotic fervor is wrongheaded. How many times does Obama have to express a love for his country? Do we have to remind that Vice President Cheney had five deferments during the conflict in Vietnam?
Since Obama has praised McCain's patriotism, perhaps the presumptive GOP nominee could return the favor.
Meanwhile, the rumor that Obama is a Muslim has continued to penetrate the Internet and in a whispering campaign. There is no absolutely no truth in this. Since McCain is forthright on his many chats with reporters on his Straight Talk Express, he should say that both candidates are Christians. End of story.
There are many important issues that divide these two candidates—the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, taxes, medical care costs, energy policy, and trade, to mention a few.
It would be a welcome sign if voters could hear less about patriotic fervor and false religious charges and more about really important matters.
Tags: presidential election 2008 | Barack Obama | John McCain | religion
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Reader Comments
McCain is too friggin old to be president
He is a cranky old beast that calls his wife a c*nt. Admittedly he knows nothing about the economy and is still "learning". Also, does not know how to work a computer in a time where science and technology is advancing astronomically. And this is the best the republicans have to offer in a time where our economy is sinking???... technology is expanding??? This man is a dud. I used to have respect for him, but after listening to him for some time now there is no possible way I could vote for him. I will again (sigh) vote for the lesser of two evils that our corporate media has selected for us.
Question Patriotisms of John McCain and Charlie Black
With Charlie Black still around John McCain, I now question John McCain's patriotism. I question whether John McCain is someone who upholds traditional American values when he keeps a former lobbyist with strong ties with some of the world's worst dictators.
Black is also a national security threat. He said that another terrorist attack to the United States will be a huge advantage for McCain. And Charlie Black has a history of working with bad dictators, so he must know their methods of terrorizing people.
Republicans have exploited national security for their own political advantage during the last 8 years. I do not believe McCain and Black are sincere on national security and I see McCain also as a national security threat as long as he keeps Charlie Black around him. McCain and Black together are very dangerous for our national security. It's time to aggressively question their patriotism.
TRUE AMERICAN PATRIOTS DO NOT EXPLOIT THE NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL ADVANTAGES. MCCAIN SHALL NOT HIDE BEHIND HIS MILITARY RECORD TO DODGE QUESTION ON HIS ASSOCIATION WITH CHARLIE BLACK!
capela
I agree.
Both candidates have different points of view.
Both are patriotic though their supporters try to bring up irrelevant issues.
I would like to know more about the individuals they would pick for their inner circle since I want to make sure these candidates don't end up with a group think mentality.
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John W. Mashek covered politics in Washington for four decades with U.S. News & World Report, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and the Boston Globe. His primary beats were Congress, the White House, and national politics. He covered every presidential election from 1960 to 1996. He was a panelist in three televised presidential debates in 1984, 1988, and 1992.